The Impact of Giving

Posted: March 27th, 2020

Student’s Name

Professor’s Name

Course

Date

The Impact of Giving

            Individual contributions, however small, go a long way in making the society a better place. Community service, in particular, helps quite a lot in enhancing our surrounding environment. Volunteer positions are available in churches, hospitals, clinics, fire stations, schools and many other such places. Any task performed in any of these institutions contributes not only towards improving the quality of service at these organizations, but also to the society in general.

I recently volunteered at one of the local public hospitals, and the experience was as self-gratifying as it was beneficial to the community. Previously, I believed that it was the responsibility of the government and charitable organizations to take care of the society. After my vounteering experience, however, I learned that each one of us has an important role to play in the community. At the hospital, I volunteered in the record keeping department and I was assigned the duty of arranging and retrieving the files. My services were restricted to non-medical roles as I am not trained in health care. Nevertheless, I facilitated the treatment of patients, by ensuring their records were kept safely for future use.

            I believe that individuals are gifted differently to enable interdependence. We must, therefore, always strive to come to the aide of people who need assistance. Furthermore, individuals who have received help often reciprocate to others in need. The society would, thus, be a much better place if everyone took on the responsibility of minding the welfare of others. A time of strength is better spent in the service of others, who would later help in times of weakness. Moreover, one can only understand the struggle that others are facing by being in their shoes. And hence stepping out of your comfort zone to visit environments where people are in need can prove to be a very enlightening experience.

            The value of a service rendered is better than any monetary donation. Earlier I thought of money as the primary motivation for working. But engaging in community service personally gave me a different perspective on life, as I learned that there are better things in life than money. The significance of the service offered by attendants in the hospital cannot be equated to the salary they receive from the government. While the compensation received is helpful in meeting some of their home expenses, the gratification they feel in their service to the society is much higher.

            Though I entered into it for educational purposes, I am now a different person because of the experiences I have gained through community service. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has never tried it before. An opportunity to serve is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Therefore, I still continue spare some time to visit the hospital to offer assistance whenever I can. The medical staff appreciates the help rendered, and it inspires them to give the best service to the patients. At a certain point, each one of us needs the help of others. However, the assistance granted is not deserved unless an individual has himself spent some time in the service of others. Dedicating some time to the service of others, according to me, is one of the most essential duties of life.